by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

There was a moment last year when Mark Sanchez broke character for just a few seconds when asked about the addition of Tim Tebow to the New York Jets.

"Selling seats, man," Sanchez told reporters.

Before and after that comment, Sanchez played the role of good teammate publicly and didn't take the bait when asked over and over whether Tebow's presence was a distraction to him or the team as a whole.

This week, during an appearance on FOXSports Radio's Petros and Money show, Sanchez finally indicated the team's insistence on bringing in Tebow and the surrounding hoopla certainly didn't help Sanchez's play or the team's 6-10 record overall.

"I just don't know if it was the best situation for either of us really, but you kind of play with the cards you're dealt and do the very best you can," Sanchez said in his first interview on the program since last March, one day before the Jets acquired Tebow.

He went on to add: "(We) really underachieved as a team, so we're looking to change that this year. And we're optimistic about it, and we trust that the front office will put us in a good position, and we'll have a good year."

Sanchez then was asked once again about the intensity of the media coverage and indicated the Jets were to blame.

"Well, I think part of that, too, (is) ESPN didn't necessarily sneak in overnight at our training camp. You have to get permission to go," Sanchez said. "So you can avoid that stuff on your own, if you'd like, in my opinion.

"But he's a popular guy, and people gravitate toward the guy. He's a special person and a heck of a competitor, so people want to know what's going on. But that's really my piece on that, that's all I got on that."

Sanchez said there was no strain in the relationship between him and Tebow, who is still on the roster but is expected to soon be released - perhaps after the draft - if he's not traded.

"Oh, you know what, it's cool. We're good," Sanchez said. "He's a nice guy, and he works hard, and that's good. It's honestly - after really the initial shock of the whole thing - you say, 'All right, well it's just something you're going to have to deal with, and I'm dealing with it the best way I can and trying to stay positive about the whole thing.'

"It's really not on my mind. I'm concerned right now with learning a new system and being the best quarterback I can be and hopefully that helps the team."